22 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



about 6in. or Tin. in width. It is mostly constructed to fall 

 down from above ; but, as this is very inconvenient, it can also 

 be made to open sideways ; in any case, it must fasten securely 

 with a long hook, or a spring holdfast. Almost every parrot, 

 especially the larger ones, whether it be from weariness, wan- 

 tonness, or mischief, employs itself busily in breaking off 

 anything that is not firm and secure in the cage, and 

 particularly in bursting the fastening of the door. 



The perch needs much attention. In order that it may not 

 be gnawed, it was formerly the custom to cover it with thin 

 iron plate ; this, however, caused the bird much suffering, 

 for, in the first place, it soon became so smooth that the 

 parrot could with difficulty keep its position, often fell down 

 at night, and suffered much from the continual exertion of 

 holding fast ; secondly, it brought on corns and blisters to the 

 feet by the pressure of the hard metal ; and thirdly, being a 

 good conductor of heat, it gave the bird cold in the feet and 

 stomach, and thus caused disease. By a suitable arrangement 

 there is now introduced, on each side of the cage, below the 

 food and drinking vessels, an iron ring, or a socket of strong 

 zinc, and in this the perch is firmly wedged. For the perch, 

 a piece of fresh stick, of not too hard wood, with the bark 

 on it, should be chosen, and, as soon as it has been gnawed, 

 it can, without difficulty, be replaced by another. If a stick 

 without bark should be chosen, it must not be too smooth, 

 but somewhat rough. A practical arrangement has lately been 

 adopted for the food and drinking vessels ; an arched or 

 hollow cover is soldered on, which encloses the food, so that 

 the parrot cannot throw out and scatter the seed, &c., nor 

 sprinkle the water about, as it can from the open vessels. 

 These are pushed in, and, at the back of each, there is a 

 wire grating, which prevents the bird escaping when the food 

 and water are being changed. A perfectly satisfactory parrot 

 cage should not be wanting in one particular which I consider 

 most important, that is, a short comfortable perch in the 

 upper part of the cage, to which the bird, when enjoying 

 itself, can climb, on which it can sit comfortably and stretch 

 out its wings. One unpleasant result of this is that it dirties 

 the bars of the cage from this position ; this must either 

 be at once cleaned, or a convenient drawer, with sand to catch 

 it, must be introduced below the high perch. The ordinary 

 much-used swing in the cage is, in my opinion, not only super- 



